Pokémon: Rebron as Red, The Strongest Champion - 295

Chapter 295: Leaf’s Crushing Defeat, Ryden Advances

Indigo League – Main Stadium – Semifinals

It was time for the second semifinal of the Indigo Conference. The two contestants were Leaf and Ryden.

For many spectators who still felt regret over the previous round, this match was a welcome sight. At least they could watch a real semifinal this time instead of whatever that farce with Red had been, that so-called match that ended in a forfeit before it even began.

Even now, Yohei was still being dragged through the mud in public opinion, condemned for his cowardly decision to forfeit the match. Many of the other competitors mocked him openly, saying he did not deserve to be this year’s third-place contender at all.

“No surprise he is Lance’s cousin. I did not expect this Ryden guy to be this terrifying,” Gary said grimly from the stands. “Leaf is strong, but she barely forced down a single Dragonair.”

“Remember, he was last year’s Silver Conference Champion,” Red replied calmly.

He glanced down at the Pokédex in his hand. On the screen was Ryden’s previous tournament profile from the Silver Conference. At the top, the record was clear: Champion.

“That is right. Ryden is the heir-apparent Dragon Tamer of his family. He is also, like Red, an exceptionally rare ‘aura of intent’ Trainer,” Professor Oak added, watching the battlefield with interest.

“The Dragon intent, huh…” Red murmured, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. He was already looking forward to facing Ryden in the final.

“Nidoqueen, hold on and use Rock Slide!” Leaf called urgently.

Technically, this was a match between Leaf and Ryden. In reality, the battle so far had been a one-sided steamroll.

Leaf had prepared an Ice-heavy lineup specifically to counter Dragon-types, yet even that had not been enough to bring down Ryden’s Dragonair.

Ryden’s carefully trained Dragonair controlled both fire and electricity with ease. Its blazing flames had already burned through four of Leaf’s Ice-type Pokémon in a row.

Only when Dragonair’s repeated Flamethrowers finally wore its stamina thin had Leaf managed, with Nidoqueen, to seize that brief moment of weakness and drag it down.

After recalling his fainted Dragonair with a flicker of surprise in his eyes, Ryden sent out his second Pokémon: Gyarados.

A normal blue Gyarados, not some rare variant.

“Gyarados, Aqua Tail. Shatter Rock Slide,” Ryden said, voice level.

On his command, Gyarados let out a deafening roar. Its massive tail, wrapped in surging water, smashed through the incoming stone barrage as if it were nothing, then whipped straight into Nidoqueen’s chest. The blow was devastating.

“Nidoqueen!” Leaf cried as her partner was hurled out of bounds.

Nidoqueen tried to push herself back up, but the pain lancing through her body left her with no strength to resist. At last, she shut her eyes and fell unconscious.

“Nidoqueen is unable to battle!” the referee declared, then glanced uneasily at Gyarados. He had not expected its power to be that overwhelming.

“You are my last hope now, Venusaur!”

Leaf recalled Nidoqueen, her expression wavering for a heartbeat before she hurled her final Poké Ball with all her strength.

The flow of the match had tilted completely in Ryden’s favor. Anyone with eyes could see how this would end. But that did not put out the fire in Leaf’s chest. If anything, the pressure only sharpened her resolve. She had to give this everything she had. That was the only way she would have no regrets.

“I have to say, you Trainers from Pallet Town are remarkable,” Ryden said, genuinely impressed. “You all deserve my respect.”

He dipped his head slightly to Leaf in a small bow.

“Thank you,” Leaf replied softly.

White light faded, revealing her massive Venusaur.

“Venusaur, Power Whip!”

The moment Venusaur hit the field, Leaf did not hesitate. Eight vines shot from Venusaur’s back, twining into a single huge green whip that snapped forward at Gyarados like a striking serpent.

“Gyarados, Crunch,” Ryden said mildly.

Gyarados, a Water and Flying type, had no reason to fear Grass-type attacks. There was no need for caution.

It lunged in, jaws opening wide. Its fangs clamped down on the incoming vine, stopping the Power Whip cold. With a vicious twist of its neck, it ripped the attack apart and yanked Venusaur closer.

“Venusaur, Solar Beam!”

Leaf’s eyes widened at Gyarados’s brute strength, but she refused to stand still and take it.

Venusaur’s flower gathered sunlight in an instant, petals glowing as it began charging its strongest Grass-type move.

“Gyarados, Twister,” Ryden said.

Gyarados whipped its tail, summoning a violent dragon-shaped whirlwind that tore through the arena and battered Venusaur.

“Venusaur, you have to hold on!” Leaf shouted, voice tight.

As soon as it finished gathering light, Venusaur fired a blazing Solar Beam straight at Gyarados, hoping to seriously wound the raging sea dragon.

“Gyarados, Flamethrower.”

Ryden’s expression did not change. There was not a hint of panic on his face.

Gyarados’s scales flushed a dangerous red, as if it had stoked some buried anger.

Under the stunned gaze of the crowd, a stream of fire erupted from its mouth. In seconds, the flame thickened into a pillar that collided with the incoming Solar Beam. The two attacks struggled for dominance in a blinding clash.

“Gyarados, let that rage burn. Let the flames consume everything in front of you.”

At Ryden’s words, Gyarados’s eyes locked onto Venusaur with a savage glare. It poured even more power into the Flamethrower, and the fire column swelled, doubling in intensity.

Within moments, the blazing torrent overwhelmed the Solar Beam and engulfed Venusaur.

“Venaaaar!”

Venusaur screamed in agony as the fire swallowed it whole.

“Gyarados, now Hurricane!” Ryden followed up, pressing the advantage.

While flames still wrapped Venusaur’s body, Gyarados opened its jaws wide and summoned a howling Hurricane that slammed into Venusaur again, driving it into the ground.

Suffering two consecutive super-effective hits, Venusaur finally collapsed, unable to go on.

“Venusaur is unable to battle. The winner of this match is Ryden from Smokemoor City!”

The referee’s voice rang out as he raised his flags.

“That concludes a fierce semifinal. Though Leaf is undeniably a powerful contender, she still fell short against Ryden, the foremost Dragon Tamer of his generation. As expected of the reigning Silver Conference Champion. He has earned this commentator’s admiration!” the announcer cried excitedly.

The moment he finished, the stadium erupted into applause. Most of it came from Ryden’s fanbase, roaring his name.

In contrast, Leaf’s supporters were few and scattered. Many of them were hugging each other and crying, grief tightening their throats as they mourned her crushing loss.

“So my Indigo Conference run ends here…”

Leaf silently recalled her fallen Venusaur, then looked up into the sky and murmured to herself.

After a few seconds, she wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and smiled again, steady and bright.

Reaching the semifinals was already an outstanding achievement for her.

Now I need to start preparing for my match with Yohei, she thought. I am going to fight for that third-place spot with everything I have.